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A Scarlet Kiss
True love only comes around once in a lifetime... When thirty-year-old Jenna Lincoln hops on a plane to England, her plan is to spend two months with her boyfriend, Marcus, getting to know his family. She's heard so much about them, particularly his older sister, Scarlett, a woman he's placed on a pedestal. A chance meeting with Scarlett Rutherford-Manning is enough to convince Jenna that the woman isn't who she appears to be. That, and she's a conniving witch who doesn't think Jenna is good enough for her brother. So Jenna prepares herself for what she's certain will be the vacation from hell. What she isn't prepared for, however, is her growing attraction to the mysterious woman, and the realization that she might be with the wrong sibling... A Scarlet Kiss is a steamy lesbian romance novel.
165 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 10, 2017
22 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 27, 2017
"A Scarlett Kiss" is another mixed read for me.
I found the chemistry between Scarlett and Jenna to be exceptional, dialogue and setting were good, etc. The premise is interesting and hits on a taboo; falling for your boyfriend's sister. But, what we have at the crux of it is a story of infidelity. This is an achilles heel for romance that can sometimes be pulled off well but that has a lot to do with the characters and that's where this one hit the skids for me.
For infidelity to work, I need a lot of inner turmoil, owning up to doing wrong, attempts to rectify or correct the situation and a lot of sympathy for the characters. "Behind the Green Curtain" by Riley LaShea and "Under My Skin" from A.E. Dooland are good examples.
The situation here is titillating and something about Scarlett's character had an old-timey lady vamp feel which made the story more intriguing. But, Jenna, who started out as a sympathetic character later just comes off as selfish as does Scarlett. They feel some guilt for their actions but their own desires trump anything else. There would've been more redemption here if Jenna was figuring out a way to break things off with Marcus as soon as she twigged that the situation with Scarlett is serious but that doesn't happen. And then, Scarlett and Jenna, who have a hot and cold relationship anyway fight, push away, snap at or avoid each other half the time so what they have doesn't really feel healthy, either.
I wanted to root for them but also wanted them to run for the hills. They sort of deserved each other, really.
What is odd is that time-line wise this story does have insta-love but it doesn't necessarily feel like insta-love, either. And, I would classify this as lesfic but, since Jenna has a boyfriend, there's some m/f action that we often don't see in this genre.
I'm torn. The story is written well but the characters' selfishness drags it down.
3.5 stars
I found the chemistry between Scarlett and Jenna to be exceptional, dialogue and setting were good, etc. The premise is interesting and hits on a taboo; falling for your boyfriend's sister. But, what we have at the crux of it is a story of infidelity. This is an achilles heel for romance that can sometimes be pulled off well but that has a lot to do with the characters and that's where this one hit the skids for me.
For infidelity to work, I need a lot of inner turmoil, owning up to doing wrong, attempts to rectify or correct the situation and a lot of sympathy for the characters. "Behind the Green Curtain" by Riley LaShea and "Under My Skin" from A.E. Dooland are good examples.
The situation here is titillating and something about Scarlett's character had an old-timey lady vamp feel which made the story more intriguing. But, Jenna, who started out as a sympathetic character later just comes off as selfish as does Scarlett. They feel some guilt for their actions but their own desires trump anything else. There would've been more redemption here if Jenna was figuring out a way to break things off with Marcus as soon as she twigged that the situation with Scarlett is serious but that doesn't happen. And then, Scarlett and Jenna, who have a hot and cold relationship anyway fight, push away, snap at or avoid each other half the time so what they have doesn't really feel healthy, either.
I wanted to root for them but also wanted them to run for the hills. They sort of deserved each other, really.
What is odd is that time-line wise this story does have insta-love but it doesn't necessarily feel like insta-love, either. And, I would classify this as lesfic but, since Jenna has a boyfriend, there's some m/f action that we often don't see in this genre.
I'm torn. The story is written well but the characters' selfishness drags it down.
3.5 stars
February 4, 2020
"It's beautiful out there. Makes you forget all your troubles"
"Some troubles just seem to follow you wherever you go..."
I laughed. "Oh, you're talking about me, aren't you?"
I have zero complains this book was so good. One of the BEST enemies to lovers I have ever read. Jenna and Scarlet's chemistry was so electric I had no choice but to ship them. They were FIRE!! In their first meeting Jenna was almost run over by Scarlet's car and they hate each other ever since then. Of course there is that old thin line between hate and love. The banter between them was hot and angry and damn good. The Ice Queen trope was done gloriously here. Jenna was a hilarious protagonist.
"Why did it have to be you? Why you, of all the women in the world?"
The angst was superb as well. I know I should care that Jenna didn't break up with Marcus at first or that the affair was selfish but surprisingly the infidelity didn't bother me here, he may as well be a vase in the background for all I care.
"Some troubles just seem to follow you wherever you go..."
I laughed. "Oh, you're talking about me, aren't you?"
I have zero complains this book was so good. One of the BEST enemies to lovers I have ever read. Jenna and Scarlet's chemistry was so electric I had no choice but to ship them. They were FIRE!! In their first meeting Jenna was almost run over by Scarlet's car and they hate each other ever since then. Of course there is that old thin line between hate and love. The banter between them was hot and angry and damn good. The Ice Queen trope was done gloriously here. Jenna was a hilarious protagonist.
"Why did it have to be you? Why you, of all the women in the world?"
The angst was superb as well. I know I should care that Jenna didn't break up with Marcus at first or that the affair was selfish but surprisingly the infidelity didn't bother me here, he may as well be a vase in the background for all I care.
March 24, 2018
This is half and half for me. I enjoyed the writing and the chemistry between Jenna and Scarlett but the cheating theme makes me nauseous. Jenna goes on a six week holiday to England with her younger boyfriend, Marcus. He is 22 and completely in love with Jenna but the feelings are not returned (I already don't like her). Then she meets Marcus' sister, Scarlett, who is beautiful and an unapologetic bitch. There is no way this can end well for all concerned. Messy, messy, messy.
October 2, 2017
Good, solid read
Really well written, engaging story and with characters that were easy to like and empathise with. I would definitely recommend this read...although it is worth adding that there were a couple of areas that some people might have issue with, like the MC Scarlett professing to be lesbian but hooking up with a man.
Really well written, engaging story and with characters that were easy to like and empathise with. I would definitely recommend this read...although it is worth adding that there were a couple of areas that some people might have issue with, like the MC Scarlett professing to be lesbian but hooking up with a man.
June 7, 2018
Not one who favours infidelity and I thought I might not enjoy the book. But, truth be told, I actually enjoyed reading it and couldn’t put it down! Story was well written and lots of emotion between Scarlett & Jenna. Loved the love/hate tension between the 2 leading ladies and the sex scene was steamy (short in narrative though).
The only complain that I have about this book is that it’s too short and the ending is kind of rush.
The only complain that I have about this book is that it’s too short and the ending is kind of rush.
September 24, 2017
I bought A Scarlett Kiss solely on the blurb when it showed up on a facebook group I am on. Didn't know the writer, didn't see any reviews posted (but then again the book was only published 2 weeks ago or thereabout). But I like it when I am pleasantly surprised by an author. This woman can really write!
We are following the pov of Jenna Lincoln, a 31-year-old freelance web developer from Birfield, Massachusetts as she travels to England to be with her boyfriend of 6 months Marcus Rutherford-Manning. When he comes to collect her from the airport with the family chauffeur in tow, Jenna quickly understands Marcus has not been exactly honest with her about his background. Turns out the Rutherford-Mannings are loaded.
Marcus takes her to the estate of his parents, Norman and Fiona Rutherford-Manning in Merrick, Buckinghamshire where he also lives. After she meets with the quirky couple she settles in for what seems to be a fun stay. Little does Jenna know how her life will change forever when she meets Scarlett Rutherford-Manning, Marcus' older sister. His drop-dead gorgious older sister.
Marcus worships his sister and Scarlett feels very protective about her baby brother she practically raised as a son. Scarlett tells Jenna in no uncertain terms that she's too old for Marcus. That she is not really in love with him and only after his family name and fortune. Marcus and his parents are oblivious to the antagonistic feelings between the two women and want them to get along. So then a silent war begins between the two and things get terribly complicated when Jenna starts to develop feelings for Ice Queen Scarlett.
I was curious to see if the author was able to write herself out of this conundrum, and she was! The characters were very believable and it was certainly no insta-love. Because we are in Jenna's head we don't really know what motivates Scarlett and that adds to the story. I really enjoyed reading A Scarlett Kiss and I highly recommend it! I will certainly add more of Heidi Lowe's work to my to-read pile :-)
m/f, f/f - the m/f sex scenes were not explicit
themes: age-gap, England's upper crust, Ice Queen, forbidden love, in the closet, I hate you but I want to fuck your brains out, the green-eyed monster strikes.
4.8 stars
We are following the pov of Jenna Lincoln, a 31-year-old freelance web developer from Birfield, Massachusetts as she travels to England to be with her boyfriend of 6 months Marcus Rutherford-Manning. When he comes to collect her from the airport with the family chauffeur in tow, Jenna quickly understands Marcus has not been exactly honest with her about his background. Turns out the Rutherford-Mannings are loaded.
Marcus takes her to the estate of his parents, Norman and Fiona Rutherford-Manning in Merrick, Buckinghamshire where he also lives. After she meets with the quirky couple she settles in for what seems to be a fun stay. Little does Jenna know how her life will change forever when she meets Scarlett Rutherford-Manning, Marcus' older sister. His drop-dead gorgious older sister.
Marcus worships his sister and Scarlett feels very protective about her baby brother she practically raised as a son. Scarlett tells Jenna in no uncertain terms that she's too old for Marcus. That she is not really in love with him and only after his family name and fortune. Marcus and his parents are oblivious to the antagonistic feelings between the two women and want them to get along. So then a silent war begins between the two and things get terribly complicated when Jenna starts to develop feelings for Ice Queen Scarlett.
I was curious to see if the author was able to write herself out of this conundrum, and she was! The characters were very believable and it was certainly no insta-love. Because we are in Jenna's head we don't really know what motivates Scarlett and that adds to the story. I really enjoyed reading A Scarlett Kiss and I highly recommend it! I will certainly add more of Heidi Lowe's work to my to-read pile :-)
m/f, f/f - the m/f sex scenes were not explicit
themes: age-gap, England's upper crust, Ice Queen, forbidden love, in the closet, I hate you but I want to fuck your brains out, the green-eyed monster strikes.
4.8 stars
March 8, 2021
2.5*
While I LOVED Jenna and Scarlett's relationship and dynamic, it was too insta-lovey and fast paced for me and the cheating trope is just never necessary :///
While I LOVED Jenna and Scarlett's relationship and dynamic, it was too insta-lovey and fast paced for me and the cheating trope is just never necessary :///
March 10, 2021
It was a enjoyable read if u dont take the book seriously n thrs this infidelity part where I felt that the both characters are assholes for doing that to other person.
it has so many flaws and also inconsistence but it didn't taken away the fun when reading.
I loved jenna characters.she is strong,knows what shes doing n what shes want.the other characters felt boring n dull.
The ending also a downer for me.it was most clichest ending u can ever see.
it has so many flaws and also inconsistence but it didn't taken away the fun when reading.
I loved jenna characters.she is strong,knows what shes doing n what shes want.the other characters felt boring n dull.
The ending also a downer for me.it was most clichest ending u can ever see.
October 17, 2017
Not a bad book
It surely had its ups and downs but the ending was a bit rushed, would have liked if it didn’t go quite the way that it did
It surely had its ups and downs but the ending was a bit rushed, would have liked if it didn’t go quite the way that it did
June 5, 2018
I have mingled feelings about this story.
The concept is one that has been done before, but also one I will always fall for. I truly like the possible intrigue a situation like this can create. But that was exactly what I missed during this read, the intrigue.
It is an entertaining read, that is true. But it was too shallow in the parts where more should and could have happened. Thereby comes the fact that there was quite a lot of unnecessary drama involved in some/a lot of reactions of the main character to things others did and said. Another thing that truly bothered me was the last two chapters (ch. seventeen and the epilogue), they were rushed in every possible way, something that I can never appreciate.
That being said the base of the story was good and the characters could be entertaining, but this was no mind-blowing read to me.
The concept is one that has been done before, but also one I will always fall for. I truly like the possible intrigue a situation like this can create. But that was exactly what I missed during this read, the intrigue.
It is an entertaining read, that is true. But it was too shallow in the parts where more should and could have happened. Thereby comes the fact that there was quite a lot of unnecessary drama involved in some/a lot of reactions of the main character to things others did and said. Another thing that truly bothered me was the last two chapters (ch. seventeen and the epilogue), they were rushed in every possible way, something that I can never appreciate.
That being said the base of the story was good and the characters could be entertaining, but this was no mind-blowing read to me.
July 2, 2020
I fell in love with Scarlett & Jenna
What a beautiful love story. There is truly a thin line between love and hate. In fact i believe that both have the same passion and energy behind them and sometimes opposites do attract. Scarlett and Jenna's first meeting was definitely not a positive one but sometimes love happens even under the worse circumstances. My heart definitely went out to Marcus but sometimes know. Immediately when you have found the one even when you know the one is with someone else...whew, it was a Rollercoaster ride that I never wanted to get off of. I am deliberately being vague because I don't want to give anything away. I will just close by saying, I throughly enjoyed the story and the characters .
What a beautiful love story. There is truly a thin line between love and hate. In fact i believe that both have the same passion and energy behind them and sometimes opposites do attract. Scarlett and Jenna's first meeting was definitely not a positive one but sometimes love happens even under the worse circumstances. My heart definitely went out to Marcus but sometimes know. Immediately when you have found the one even when you know the one is with someone else...whew, it was a Rollercoaster ride that I never wanted to get off of. I am deliberately being vague because I don't want to give anything away. I will just close by saying, I throughly enjoyed the story and the characters .
August 7, 2019
I liked this book, I didn’t love it and I certainly wouldn’t read it again but I liked it. I think I liked the idea of it and wanted so much more. There is cheating going on but remorse is showed which makes it a little less harsh. There was a lot of hating going on but it was easy to over see that due to one MC struggling with her identity. The only thing I found difficult was some phrasing being used that perhaps I wouldn’t opt for so it makes the sexual scenes a little icky but we are not all the same so what works for some may not for others. Overall I did enjoy it I just wanted the end to last a few more chapters it was too sudden and rushed.
December 23, 2019
Read this in a day. Leading up to it, really pulled me in, but the end seemed rather rushed and just a bit ridiculous. I agree with many of the reviews on here: Jenna and Scarlet's chemistry was instantaneous. The sex scenes were short, but hot. What really grinded my gears, though, was not the cheating aspect, but how dumb i.e: delusional the MC was.
I'll maybe continue this review when I'm not totally fuming, but hey. It was a cute romantic story and maybe some of it was totally intended by the author. That's just my hope. Also loved the way she described the places they visited. Pretty mesmerizing!
I'll maybe continue this review when I'm not totally fuming, but hey. It was a cute romantic story and maybe some of it was totally intended by the author. That's just my hope. Also loved the way she described the places they visited. Pretty mesmerizing!
January 24, 2023
Jenna is such a great character. While she was enjoying the relationship she was in she discovered something more real and honest for herself and wasn’t afraid to go after it. Scarlet held so much fear of family and other’s expectations that I think many queer people can relate to. I enjoyed it, but I wish the ending had been better.
October 27, 2017
Very Entertaining!
Drama drama drama! I loved the relationship Scarlett And Jenna Had. The bickering and witty comments! Loved the story! Wish it was longer or had a sequel! And maybe more detailed in the Romance area.
Drama drama drama! I loved the relationship Scarlett And Jenna Had. The bickering and witty comments! Loved the story! Wish it was longer or had a sequel! And maybe more detailed in the Romance area.
May 3, 2019
More of a 1.5 star than a 2 in my book.
September 11, 2021
A good enemy for lovers!
July 4, 2022
Sounds like a 2005 romcom. Feels like a 2005 romcom. Is throughly enjoyable like a 2005 romcom. One of my comfort romances. Nothing special. Just absolutely enjoyable
March 2, 2022
3,75/5 I loved the first half of the book,the other half felt rushed
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews